She was trained as a manuscript writer and illuminator.She attended S. Silas, Kentish Town for many years in the 1920's.She had a studio in Charminster Road, Bournemouth; near St. Francis Church, Bournemouth and also attended there as a regular member of the congregation. It has been said that her studio was a terrible muddle, paint everywhere. She had short cut, bobbed hair, and described as typically arty. It is thought that very little was paid for her work. While she lived in Bournemouth she was remembered as a daily communicant and a weekly penitent. She was a very devout lady who expressed in her art her faith and devotion.She died in 1983.

At S. Silas there are a number of works atrtributed to her. These include:-The Pillar Banners.Banner on the pulpit - 'Pie Pelicane Jesu Domine'.Two banners hanging from gallery - 'Take Eat' & 'Do This'.Altar Cards in Lady Chapel.She also painted the Stations of the Cross which were designed by the Sisters of the Church. These have since been retouched but the general appearance carefully retained.Only one of her works appears in the the Parish Papers and that is her picture of the 'Resurrection'.

Altar Card

Altar Card

Altar Card

Pulpit banner - Pie pelicane Jesu Domine

This is my body - Take Eat

Do This

Other works by Nina Somerset

Resurrection

This fine Nina Somerset drawing of the visit of the Magi was used by Fr. Frank Lacy Hillier as a Christmas card.

Two posters for Christmas and Good Friday are seen here.

Nativity - Jesus Christ true God was made man for us.

Good Friday - Jesus Christ true God and man died for us and rose again.

She designed Stations of the Cross which I believe can be found at:-S. Stephen, Bournemouth, DorsetS. Mary, Throwleigh, nr. Oakhampton, DevonS. John, Hinton Martell, nr. Wimborne Minster, Dorset

The following pictures are of the Stations of the Cross at S. Stephen, Bounemouth and were kindly taken and supplied by Henry Frier.

4th Station of the Cross - Jesus meets his mother

13th Station of the Cross - Jesus is taken down from the cross

She designed banners, most of which were of Our Lady, for:-S. Francis, BournemouthS. Alban, BournemouthS. Aldhelm, Branksome, Poole, DorsetS. Mary, Bournemouth (this church has now closed and whereabouts of the banners is not known). She also painted a "Fifteenth" Station of the Cross, the "Risen Christ", for this church.

In addition at S. Francis, Bournemouth she painted "Christ the Eternal Priest" with saints at the east end and also adoring angels on shields in the Blessed Sacrament chapel.Also a 15th (Resurrection) Station of the Cross which was formerly in S. Mary's Church, Springbourne, Bournemouth.Also some wall mounted lampshades, some painted with M (for Mary) and others with kneeling angels.

The triptych was commissioned by Helen Mortimer for the Chapel of the Holy Child, for the Elmhurst Ballet School, Camberley which she founded. The history of the school can be seen on www.elmhurstdance.co.uk The school is now in Birmingham and is known as the Elmhurst School for Dance in association with Birmingham Royal Ballet.